English translations of Zwei Lieder für 1 Mittelstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 39

by Wilhelm Kienzl (1857 - 1941)

1. Sehnsucht nach Vergessen
 (Sung text)
by Wilhelm Kienzl (1857 - 1941), "Sehnsucht nach Vergessen", op. 39 (Zwei Lieder für 1 Mittelstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1890 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Ries & Erler
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lethe! Brich die Fesseln des Ufers, gieße 
Aus der Schattenwelt mir herüber deine 
Welle, daß den Wunden der bangen Seel' ich
  Trinke Genesung.
Daß ich Trinke Genesung

Frühling kommt mit Duft und Gesang und Liebe,
Will wie sonst mir sinken ans Herz; doch schlägt ihm 
Nicht das Herz entgegen wie sonst. -- O Lethe! 
  Sende die Welle!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
1. Longing to forget
Language: English 
Lethe! Burst the fetters of your banks, pour 
your wave across to me from the world of shadows,
That I may drink a cure for the wounds 
  Of a frightened soul.

Spring brings fragrance and song and love,
Wanting as usual to fall on my breast;
But my heart does not beat its usual response. -- O Lethe!
  Send the wave!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by Peter Palmer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2011-05-14
Line count: 8
Word count: 60

Translation © by Peter Palmer
2. Meine Mutter hat's gewollt  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Kienzl (1857 - 1941), "Meine Mutter hat's gewollt", op. 39 (Zwei Lieder für 1 Mittelstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1890 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Ries & Erler
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Meine Mutter hat's gewollt,
Den andern ich nehmen sollt';
Was ich zuvor besessen,
Mein Herz sollt' es vergessen;
Das hat es nicht gewollt.

Meine Mutter klag' ich an,
Sie hat nicht wohlgetan;
Was sonst in Ehren stünde,
Nun [ist es worden]1 Sünde.
Was fang ich an?

Für all' mein Stolz und Freud'
Gewonnen hab' ich Leid.
Ach, wär' das nicht [geschehen]2,
Ach, könnt' ich betteln [gehen]3
Über die braune Haid'!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View text without footnotes

Confirmed with Theodor Storm, Gedichte, Achte Auflage, Berlin: Verlag von Gebrüder Partel, 1889, page 12.

1 Poebing: "ist's geworden"
2 Poebing: "gescheh'n"
3 Poebing: "geh'n"

by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888)
2. My mother wanted it
Language: English 
My mother wanted it,
I was to marry the other one;
That which I had possessed before,
My heart was to forget;
My heart did not want to do that.

I accuse my mother,
What she did was not good;
That which would have been honourable
Has now become sin.
What shall I do?

For all my pride and joy
I have received sorrow.
Ah, had that not happened,
Ah, could I go a-begging
Over the brown heath!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2026-11-10
Line count: 15
Word count: 78

Translation © by Sharon Krebs